Machine for forming oil-cakes.



I. DAVIDSON;

, MACHINE Fon romNG olL omis.,

wfLlcATlon fuso um. 13, 191s. Pated 18, 19,17..

4 sainssuur l E... Elli/5% .pAvlosoNf,

MACHINE [0R FORMING OIL CAKES.

APPLlAT'lon man mi. 1a. 1917s.

. Patented Dec. 18,1917.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

i wrrNEssEs 59M f y J. DAVIDSON.

I MACHINE ron FoRMmG olL cAKEs.

' APPLICATION FILED 'IML I3, |916. i 1,250,147. Patented Dec.18,`191z.

. 4 SHEETS-SHEET 3 p I L I I I I I ///////////////////f///v/ I I. I

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

Patentd Dec. 18V, 1917.

J. DAVIDSON.

MACHINE FR FORMING OIL CAKES.

APFLICATIOK FlLED JAN. 13. ISIS.

1 U N I@ I ED STATE0 S PAT N" "T OF ETI CE. JOSEPlH DAVIDSON, F EAST POINT, GEQBGIA, ASSIGNOB 0F ONE-HALF TO AMERICAN p MACHINE & MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION 0F NORTH CAROLINA.

MAGHINE roar-emana@ OIL-calms. I

cakes which may be eli'ectively operated toV produceV cakes of uniform size and of ap` proximately uniform weight and density,

lSaid operations being accomplished witha minimum requirement of care on the part of the attendant. My object is further to provide suitable means for mechanically del'iv; ering the meal or ground seed, from whlch the oil is to be extracted, to the mold box of the cake former in a condition and quantity which will enable uniform` cakes to be molded, and this result'to be accomplished notwithstanding 4irre ularity in the homogeneity of the mea-1 ue to the presence of umps therein.

With the above and other objects in`view, the nature of which will be' more fully understood from the description hereinafter, the invention consists in t e novel combination of the parts as well as'the specific construction of certain features thereof which enter into the organization of my improved oil-cake former, as hereinafter"morey fully describedand defined in the claims,

Referring to the drawings F igure 1 is a siclcl elevation of an oil-cake forming machine embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is an end elevation ofthe' same; Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of my improved oilcake forming machine with a portion of the operating means for the charge box broken away, and showing the machine lin the act of filling the mold box with meal from the charge box; Fig. 4 is a :transverse sectional elevation of my improved machine on line` w-fof Fig. 1; 5 is a longitudinal sectional elevation o the hydraulic means for operating Vthe charge box,

and Figl `a section of the mal-n valves.

My improved machine isA essentially hyjtdraulically operated and isV what is known :iin the trade .as ahydraulic former, and com- 'prehends in an organized machine the association of two mechanisms, namely that .y employed for charging the'forming mecha;

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 1a, 1917.

Application llled January 18, 1918. nSexiialmlo. 71,840. i

nism with meal,` and the forming mechanism which compresses the meal' into the cake. i

over thepress cloth, which has been pre-v viously placed in the bottom of the meal tray or mold 4which formsa part of the forming mechanism, whereby each cake may be of substantially the same shape and weight and of a substantially uniform density when finished. The function of the formlng mechanism is to press the molded meal, and in doin [this the free ends ofthe press ycloth 'arer-st brought up and over the meal placed in the tra or mold by the char ng mechanism, and t e meal thus held `in p ace by the tray and head tree is subjected to hydraulic pressure, thereby producmg a cake havlng the press cloth over theV twofaces and ends and packed suliiyciently hard tol remain firm at the uninclosed s ldeedges until `after the cakes are transferred and placed in the ress (for pressmg out the cotton seed oil wherein `the side edges become firmly sup orted by the steel rsides ofthe press box. ile my invention is not restricted as to any specific shape of cake, the preferred dimensions are thirty-'four inches long, fourteen inches wide, and one and seven-eighth inches thick, including the inclsing cloth. Cakes so formed are usually transferred from the former lto the press upon a, suitable cake pan which prevents the cake from becomlng 'broken inV transit.

j The charging mechanism and forming mechanism above .referredto are suitably supported upon a common* foundation and both mechanisms areso associated as to 'be under the kcontrol of a single operator by devices to be hereinafter' described.

2 is the base of the machine and has secured upon it, adjacent'to one end, the hy- Y v draulic cylinder 8 in which theies the vertically movable plunger .7, said `plunger carrying atr'its upper end the meal tray 3 of themold lbox mechanism.A This tray 3 is of general rectangular form and provided with.V alongitudinal rectangular recess or chamber 6 in itsl upper part which is open at oppositelends The tray 3 is adaptedto have-a vertical ciprocating motion under `the control 'of the hydraulic cylinder and plunger, and is guided in itsv which the press cloth 31 may rest, as clearly shown in Fig. 3. The upper part of the may be closed recessed portion of the tra by the head tree which 1s provided withlaterally extending arms secured upon the longitudinal shaft 11 arran ed to one sideof the tray 3 andy carried y the upright frame 4. The construction of this head tree 10 is such that itv may swin about the axis of the shaft 11 so as'to be rought into co-A operation with the vertically reciprocating tray in the act of compressing the meal cake, and which can be turned u out of the way duringthe period of chargmg the tray with the meal and when removing. the com leted cake from the tray (see dotted lines, Fig. 4). The means for operating the head tree will now be described Referring to Fig. 4,

18 is a latch which is hinged at 19 to suitable lugs onthe -head tree at the opposite side thereof Ito the shaft 11', and said latch has its lower end 18l inwardl projecting so as to enga ea cross bar or keeper 4? on the upright4 rame 4, and in this manner hold thel head tree'against shifting during the compression operation. yThe aforesaid.

lugs of thehead'tree areishaped torest upon the top of the said frame 4, so that the position of the .head tree is ydefinitely fixedA 4c when the arts are adjusted asjindicated in Flg. 2.v Y e up r end of the latch 18 is jointed to the link 16 which 'is extended across the head tree and hinged to a toggle v plate 12 journaled upon 'the shaft 11, saidk '-4'5 toggle plate' connected to thepistonrod 13 of the piston 14 working in the hydraulic @cylinder 14. This cylinder is preferably pivoted on; trunnions at 14N-in the upright frame 4, said pivotal arrangement bem to permit oscillation to suit the shifting o the piston -rod under the rocking of thetoggle'l plate 12. When the piston 14 is forced downward, the tog 1e p ate'12 is rocked and the link '.16 shifte ,.-to cscillate-the latch 1 8 whereby it is released from the cross bar. o1"

y kee er 4", said movement being permitted until. the latch 18 is. broughtj'lnto contact with the end of the 'screw 2 0 carried inthe head tree. Duringthis action the sprin 60 17, surroundingy the link 16,- is compress the meal. I spring-'15 may also be employed between' I 1.25am? ga l the keeper or bar 4b when the head Atreel Ais roughtA into position to act as an abutj to the act of compressing mentv prelimina In a dition to the spring 17 a the to of the cylinder 14 and a collar 13l 'aroun the piston 4rod 13, the\function vof Vwhich is to return the piston 14 to the upper vpart of the cylinder when the hydraulic pressure is released from said cylinder, said action being assisted by the weight of the head tree while being lowered from the dotted line position into the solid line position, Fig.'4, reliminary to the-'compression operation. he spring 17 coperates with the spring 15 in bringing lthe parts to the .condition indicated in F1g.'4,` and the adjustability of spring 17 provides the spring devices as avwhole with capacity for adjusting their combined power. f The ends of the tray, normally open, are

adapted to be closed during the charging of the tray and before the compression operation, and the manner of closing these ends is indicated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. At the end ofthe tray, -farthest removed from the charging mechanism is a swinging apron 26 which is secured 4to a rock shaft 27 and counterweighted at 28, so that the normal tendency is for the apron to rise up out of the Way of the tray yas indicated in Fig. 2, but which apron maybe thrown downmto closed poV rsition as indicatedin Fig. 3 during the j, charging operation. The apron is made flat 'cn the top and inalinement withthe upper guide surface 3" of the tra whereby the "charge box 33 may' be gui ed beyond the V Lend ofy the tray, as will beiunderstood vby reference to F1g.l 3. The operation of the rock shaft 27 to bring the swinging` apron 26 into and out of operation will be de'- scribed hereinafter. The other end of the tray lis closed yby the abutment 32 of the sliding apron 32 which is adapted'to transfer Ithe charge box V33 with its contents from receivin position below the meal chute 38- (fromt e cookers) `to the distributing posiinder 41, said plunger being connected with a downwardly projecting portion` from the underside of the-apron. The iuid ressurey for the cylinder 41 is supplied v y--ay pipe 42 under the control of a valve 44 tov i in'Fig. 1 by the action cf t e charging mechanism, asf will be described l heremafter.

After the tray has been closed at each end andglias with the meal in the i manner illustrated in Fig. 3, and hereinafter Wal' described, the sliding apron 32 is moved back to the position indicated in Fig. 1, and the ivoted apron 26 is allowed to move uply (by means later to be described) as indicated in Fig, 2, and thereafter the ends of the press cloth are turned up over the meal charged in the tray so that the ends are closed against'the escape of the meal.

`The head tree 10 is then'swung downwardly and latched as indicated in Fig. 4, p

said operation being caused by" the weightV lof the head tree and controlled by the release v 14b of said pivoted cylinder.

When the head tree is finally lowered and Vlocked in position as indicated in Fig. 2,

the fluid pressure is admitted to the hydraulic cylinder` 8 through the valve 9 and the ports 8* (Figs. Bland 4) with the result that the plunger 7 is forced upwardly andv carries with it the meal tray, producing compression of the meal in its confined condition within the meal tray and its inclosing press cloth. The valve 9 is operated by a f stem 9, is normally moved to a lclosed position4 bythe action of a spring 9" and to an open position by means of the pivoted lever 20 fulcrumed at 21 and having its upperiend in position lto be actuated by the hooked end 18a of the latch 18 '(Fig. 4). In this manner it is seen that when the head tree is moved into operative position with the meal tray and locked in such 'positionby the latch 18, said'action automatically operates the valve 9 yto provide pressure to the hydraulic cylinder 8 to produce proper compression of t e meal. When the latch'18 isy operated to release the head tree after the compression," the spring 9'? of the valve 9 automatically" moves the valve to its'` closed position and oscillates the lever 2() into a position by which it may, in the next` operation, be actuated by the latch 18, 'as in the case above described; In this manner it isseen that the valve is automatic in its opening and closing, but indirectly this operatlonfis controlled by the hand lever 23 which directly controls theoperation .of the main valve 22 d which in turn' controlsv the cylinder Maand thereby the head tree.I 'v f y I Jwill.no 'vvdescribe the general construc-y tion and arrangement of the two main valves 22 and 24 (Figs. 2 and) -244 is the high pressure fluid supply pipe, and 25a is the eiihaust or relief pipe, the same communicat` ing with accumulator apparatus of any suitable character. The main va'lve 24, Fig. 2, which is operated by the lever 23, may be of any suitable construction for intermittently admitting fluid under high pressure tothe pipe 8e, and normally delivering fluid to the pipe 22d. The high pressure fiuid from the pipe 8 passes through the body of the check valve casing 8d, and by the pipe 8t is delivered to the valve chamber of the inlet valve 9 for supplying fluid under pressure to the cylinder8, when said valve is opened, as before explained. The check valve4 8d below the `ball valve is, by pipe 8, in communication with a port 8b which leads to and opens into the port 8* extending into the cham` ber of the hydraulic cylinder 8. In this way when the' high thel main valve 2 said high pressure holds the check valve upon itsf seat, and under the' control of the valve 9 is admitted to the hydraulic cylinder 8.` When the pressure in pipe 22aL connecting with the valve 22 which `controls the supply and discharge to the head tree operating cylinder 14*t `through pressure is admitted by a the cylinder 8 is. to be relieved, .the main valve 24 is operated by havingits plunger 24* depressed, said action shutting ofll the supply of fluid at high pressure to the pipe 8 and\putting said pipe lin communication with the exhaust or relief pipe 25a. This action permits the fluid pressure inthe hydraulic cylinder 8 to be relieved through the port 8", pipe 8C, checkl valve 8, pipe 8, into the exhaust or relief pipe 25, thereby allowing the meal tray to descend into its original position. The main valve 24 is operated by the hand lever 23, the handle v23a thereof being raised when4 applying pressure tothe 4hydraulic cylinder 8, and depressed when relieving the `said'hydraulic cylinder of such pressure. The valve 22y which controls the pressure to the oscillating cylinder 14'l is substantially the same as the main valve 24 though reversed, and operates substantially as folloyvsz-I v `When the valve `plunger 22x thereof is raisedlas `shown in Fig. 2, the high pressure fluid passes by the pipe 22"L to the'cylinder 14,'falnd. the .exhaustpipe 22b is shut off. When' the plunger 22X is depressed, the hi h pressure supply is shut off and the cylin er '14 exhausts through the relief pipe 22" and through,4 the'mainyalve 24 into the relief pipei25'. As valve ,22 would require that its.

pressure in the .oscillating cylindery 14, it will follow that this'is accomplished by lift.-

the valve 24to'close its exhaust and supply fluid pressure to the pipe 8*.5 i e l plunger 22` shall'ubeV depressed to relieve the When the Huid pressure is relieved from the cylinder 14 by the manipulation of the valve 22 through the rais' of the handle end 23 of the lever 23, the piston 14 is graduallyraised under the action of the spring 15 and the weight of the head tr and its lconnections, said -Ihead tree and connections swinging about the axis formed by.

the shaft 11. During this action, the latch 18 is held out of locking position by the gravity action of the said head tree modi' ied by the spring 17 until -the said head treerests upon the top ofthe frame 4, 4, after which the further combined actions of the springs 15. and 17 will oscillate the latch 18 whereby its hooked end 18a passes under the keeper or bar 4b and thereby locks the head ,tree in horizontal position, as shown in Fig.

I 2. The special operations which take'place in insuring this particular action involved in the lowering of the headtree and also in its return movement to elevated position, will be more fully described in the operation of the apparatus following the-description of the charging mechanism, now to be described.

I will now describe the charging mechanism usedin combination with the forming mechanism hereinbefore described.` The cooked meal is delivered from the cookers (not shown) through the meal chute 38 and the discharge therefrom is controlled by the slide valve 39 (Fig. 3). The valve lseat for valve 39 is upon the under side of the bridge casting 38* which is supported at its sides by the upright brackets 38b extending from the mam frame 2 (Fig. 1); and the chute 38 is secured at its bottom to the bridge casting and at its top to the cookers (no-t shown): This valve 39 is secured to theupper part of the brackets 39 formed integral with the sliding apron 32 h eretofore described. so that when the apron is moved forward by the action of the hydraulic plunger 40 and cylinder 41, the` slide valve- 39 will shutv oil'l the. delivery of the cooked meal or meats from the chute 38.

The charging box 33 is normally resting p upon the slidm apron and under the chute 38, but' when t is occursthe apron 32 is moved back as indicated in Fig. 1, and at a time when the'forming mechanism is compressin the meal cake. bringing the chargeV ox 33 to said position, it is pulled Y backward by the piston rod 34, b which'it 4is shifted, said piston rod provi ed with a spring or cushion 37b which is moved against the liange 32l just as the charge 'box 33 passes over theI apron and part way under the slide valve 39"; and a further movement of the piston rod moves the -apron and its slide' valve together with the charge box to v the position indicated Vin Fi 1 1n which the meal is permitted to passv rom the .chute intolthecharge box. When the charge box 33 is again moved forward to transfer itsmeal char e to the meal tray, the apron 32 and its sllde valve 39 also move forward, the former to bring its end 32 into contact with'l -thehmeal tray (as before described) and its valve 39 into shut off position to close the chute 38 (Fig. 3). This' forward movement of the apron 32 is accomplished by the plunger 40 and cylinder 41 under control of-valve 44 which controls the supply of fluid under pressure through pipe 42 tosaid cylinder 41; and when fluid pressure is supplied to cylinder 41 it is simultaneousl supplied to the cylinder 35 by a branch of t e same ipin 42. The cylinder 35 is provided wit a plston 36 on the end of the iston rod 34 connected with the charge ox. This cylinder 35 is `secured to the main frame '2* and is supplied with fluid under pressure at its distant and forward ends by the respective pipes 42 and 43. The pressure in pipe 43 is the initial pressure 1n the supply pipe 24 and itsI branch, I

ipe 24'. connecting with the valve 44. hen the valve 44 exhausts the distant end of .cylinder 35 by pipe 42, it also exhausts the cylinder/41, and at such time the initial pressure on the forward side of the piston 36 forces it back and brings the apron and charge box to the-positionshown in Fig. 1,

the spring buiier 3.7h on piston rod 34 next to the charge box 33, insuring an easy initial movement to the sliding apron 32. To prevent jar atthe completion of this backward movement, the piston and piston rod are received u on a bumper 37 having a spring 37 F and inclosed in a head or capf35a ofthe cylinder 35 (Fig. 5).l As the operative area on the rear side of the piston 36 is in excess of theforward side bythe area of the piston rod, it isvmanifest that when the valve 44 supplies the pipe 42 with iluid at the initial pressure, the piston will be moved forward andl with it the charge box; that also relieves the apron. and this with' its slide valve is moved forwardly by the plunger 40 and cylinder 41.

As the charge box and apron 'are required to move under automatic coitrol, suitableA I provisi'on is made to insure proper timing of the` operation of the valve 44 and this will now be described. Thevalve44 is best shown in Fig. 3,'and comprises the casing,y 44 se- I cured to .the upri htframe'f44" and. the piston valve 45 sliing therein, said piston valve providin'gllenlarged cylindrical portions 45 which altenatelyseat in the casing to supply fluid pressure or exhaust-relief to the pipes `42. The

exhaust port with pipe4 25", fas shown inlet port of@ the valve 44 connects with pipe'24" and theV in Fig. 1. .When the piston valve 45 isA raised, fluid pressure' is' delivered to pipes 42, and when lowered l'said pipes` are exhausted. This piston valve 4 5-v is operated A(il) lever 28 is a lug 451 through which the upper end of an extension from the piston valve 45 projects (Fig. 3) and between said lug and the upper end of said valve extension there` is arranged a coil spring 45". By this connection betweenthe lever 28 and valve 45,

a downward oscillation to the handle end of the lever by gravity will positively force the piston valve 45 down upon its seat to shut oif the fluid pressure and relieve the cylinders 41 and 35 of pressure .by the pipes 42; and a reverse manually 4produced movement of the lever 28 will shift the valve 45 to close the exhaust and supply fluid pressure to the pipes 42. When the weighted or handle end of the lever 28 is lifted bythe operator, the piston valve 45 is shifted to the open or pressure position and other end of the lever is locked in` its depressed position by the pivoted latch 52 (Figs. 1 and 4), and this insures the pressure being continued until said latch is released. This latch 52 is connected to one end of a rod 51, the other end of which is hinged to an arm 50 ofa lever fulcrumed at 49 on the main frame 2", said lever l havingI its other or curved arm 48 in the path of a collar 47 adjustably secured upon a trip rod 46 secured to the charge box 33 `so as to 'move with it, said collar depressingthe arm 48 and-` tripping the latch 52 to release the lever 28 when the charge box has reachedl the limit of its charging travel. In this Way the time of operation of the piston valve 45 is assured to cause relief or exhaust of the pressure in the pipes 42 and insure a return of the charge box and apron to their initial position (Fig. 1). When the latch has been tripped as above stated the Weighted endfof the lever 28 descends by gravity and in doin so forces down the iston valve 45 to its exlausting position. he particular function of the spring 45" is here to insure the piston valve 45 positivelyseating in its exhausting position while permittin the lever 28 to move slightly more so that 1t may 'bef come locked by latch 52, said sprin compensating for Wear and lost motion o the latch pivot and other parts and yet insuring ositive seating ofthe valve under all conditions.

In this way, the lever 28 has capacity for somewhat greater movement than would be required to fully throw thevalve 45, but as ravity can only operate to compensate for ost motion when the valve is in exhausting position, the spring'is resorted to as a meansto compensate for lost motion in the open or pressure supply position, iand yobvlate necessity for very accurate relative movement of the lever. The normal tendency of the apparatus is to throw the latch 52 into latching position by gravity and this may be increased by a weight 5()a applied to the' arm 50, if so desired.

Aside from the function of operating valve 44, the lever 28 is arranged to operate the rock shaft 27 for actuating the pivoted apron 26. The rock shaft 27 has'upon its end an arm 30, which is connected by a link 29 with the lever 28 at a point on the opposite side of its fulcrum to which connection is made with valve 44. By this means, it will be seen, the lifting of the lever 28 into locked position will simultaneously swing down the pivoted apron 26 at the same time that it putsthe sliding apron 32 and charge box into motion for charging the meal tray. It will further be seen, that while the lowering' of the apron 26 is thus done manually so that it shall be in position for receiving the charge box (Fig. 3), its release to upward position (Figs. 1 and 2) is insured automatically by the tripping of the latch 52 when the charge box has reached to the extreme of its movement. It will further be noted that the counterweight 28'c assists the weight 28b in shifting the lever 28 to operate the valve 44.

From the foregoing it will be observed that the operator is only required to lift the lever 28 into locked position, and the remaining operations o charging the meal tray and returnof the parts to their initial positions (Fig. l) are all done automatically, thereby makmg the' machine easy of nipulation and operable by unskilled labor.

Referring more specifically to the charge box w33 itself, it will be seen that it is open at top and bottom and slightly tapering to permit easy fall of the meal by gravity as soon as the box passes from the apron 2l overthe meal tray 6, and the capacity of the charge of the Vbox is proportioned so that it will insure complete i, filling of the tray beingmoved to the left, it Willbe seen that the meal `'passing below the vane 33IiL is positivelyplhed downward and packed into the trays? This vane also has a further and important function, namely, to prevent? lumps in the-meali producing furrows in the surface of the meal in the tray and consequent production j of defective meal cakes.

Loose meal after being cooked orduring cooking process,` sometimes `has a tendency to stick-together and also to any iron or steel parts with which it comes into Contact,

and this tendency occasionally presents itself .when in the backward movement of the charging box, the edge, in skimming over the meats inthe charged tray, comes in contact with a lump of meal (which has probably formed in the cookers), and carrying it along, causes a furrow toy be formed in y the meal in the tray. If the meal is slightly packed in the tray instead of being merely dropped in, the lump referred to would be scraped oif by the edge of the charge box before it could do any damage.' The vane 33l acts to suitably pack the meal in the tray and in this way overcome the' furrowing tendency ofthe lumps. -If any lumps are -in the charge box and are deposited in the tray during the outward or charging movement of the box, they would be broken up and packed downby the vane 33,, and any small depressions which mi ht occur to the rear of such lumpswould e filled by the meal left in the forward end of the charge box as the box is returned. It is manifest that, as the vane 33" does not reach to the rear of the box, suchlumps as above mentioned `mi ht work down from the box into that-ray, ut in the return movement of the charge) box and with the vane' 'in' its dotted position (\Fi 3), the lumps would lbe broken up and t e meal packed down;

and the slight furrow which might thus be produced, filled by the meal to the-left of lso the vane. In practice, theoutward movem'ent of the charge box should preferably be -suflicient to bring the bottom edge ofthe vane 33* over or beyond 'the forward edge' of the swinging apron 26, so that, both in the forward and return movements of the f box,the vane will act eiciently over the entire lbody of'meal in the-meal tra Thefusc ofthis packing vane or cam surface insures the meal in the press cloth to be without holes or depressions and of approximately uniform density, with the result that the.

compressed cakes are homogeneous and well suited for use in the pre'ss.

- Assumin .that the meal-.tral has been roperl y filed with the meal, t e operator Pings c the meats inthe tray and then raises lever pressure and opens to exhaust to relieve the piston 14.` This Ypermits the spring 15 tolv move the piston upward to swing-downthe head tree 10. During this operation, vthe fluid pressure is to the valve'9l`b1t 'not permitted to enter :cylinder a8.. yThe headf Atreesvvings down aboutits pivotal shaft 11, i first by the actionV of the sprin 1,5 and then 'by' its own weight las it nears t e limit of its downward movement and comes to" rest in position *above the 4open 4top `of 'the-meal 1 operations,- held y and now vwhen he feels the ve Y tionV due'to' the .completion o theaction of th ends of the press-cloth up over Iperating bothvalves22 and Valve' o'ses the exhaust and` admits the uidj pressure-'from the .aecumulaton or Vother source,l and valve 22 closes against fluidtray, being supported in said position by the shaft 11 on one side, and the top of the frame 4` on the other (Fig. 4). As the toggle plate 12 Vis free to oscillate on shaftfll and is connected 'both with link 16 and pis-- ton 14, and` as the upward movement of the piston is regulated by the speed of exhaust or relief of pressure permitted by the needle valve 22, the graduall increasing force of the weight of. the hea I tree, duc yto the increasing leverage as it descends, is retarded to some extent by the spring, 1'( being compressed, the result of -which action is to swing the latch outward at' the lower or 'locking end. This action continues until stopped by the set-screw. 2O contacting with the atch 18. head tree is further lowered to its `final-position (Fig. 4), the

'latch will have cleared the keeper or bar 4",

andas the springs 15 and 17 will then be relieved of. the weight ofthe head tree they will -jointl produce a linal shifting'of the linkr16 an latch vto cause the latter to swing intorlockin engagement with the bar 4", as shown in igs. 2 and '4;' The head tree is now locked firmly in position in contact with meal in the tray and, vas shown in Fi 4, will have slightly compressed it as an initial co uence of the head tree ositionin `itself P g or the heavy compression action to follow. y ,h

ocklv 'ng position, it trips t e lever 20 and o thevalve 9to admit 'luidpressure to t e cylinder 8, with the' result that the plunger 7 and tray 3 are forced upward upon the head tree and fully compress `the meal cake. The-o rater has, during these e leven 23 in his hand slight vibracompression, he lowers 'the lever to shift thel valve 22 and 24,7',exhausting v:from valve 24 and-,supplying pressure from valve l22 -to thezc luider 4". The result is, that the cylin er 8 exhausts throu h check valve 8b v valve' 24 and lowers t e'mealtray and y the piston 14 moves down under the fluid pressure with compression of springs` 15 and 17 and bscillation of the latch 18 outward at the .bottom to release the head tree. As the operation of the When therlatch 18 is moved into piston 14 continues, the.

latch lfcontactswith lset screw 20, and y then the headtrceloascendsfwith-the latch and swings about itspivotal axis on shaft 11m the docdvposindn, Fig. 4.- At this time the collar 13501'1 the piston 14 will conupward movement,= the'- decreasing gravity 'action due to itsweight is vover-halanced by j thefforcenof the spring 17 to operate the `tact. with the toI'if-'pf the c ,linder14 and =arcstfurther-movement* o the parts;- It vwill be evident =that in lsuch operation, Aas Q the head tree asceds itsi weight is balanced i l onV shaft .11 fto agradually increasing' extent, until at some .point,iiear itsA extreme latch 18; and at the same time the deci-eas ing force requiredy to raise the head tree is compensated for by the increasing force of the spring 15 during its compression and until arrested -by the collar 13a aforesaid. When this operation has been completed 'the attendant takes the completely formed cake from themeal tray on a cake' y by which it is transferred to the box o ithe press in the usual manner.

f It will be seen from the foregoing de` through the check valveS"l but: also initiallyby the valve 9, and this continues until the latch 18 has Vreleased the lever,` 20 and per mitted the valve 9i to close, after," which the relief is completed bythe check hvalveone. In this Way', there is'more rapid` relief of the cylinder 8 at"y thestart, and-this is desir-able as it more quicklyl lowers the meal tray and to an` extentr suilicient t'o` permlt free. release of the head tree by the time it has been unlatched by the latch, l8r; after which, the lowering of the meal tray and raising of `the head. tree take place simultai neouslyl The great simplicity of operation of my improved machine, in so far as hand manipulations are concerned, ,will be apparent when we state theV sequence of such manipulations, keeping inmind that all other operations of the machine as a 'whole are purely automatic. Theyl are :-'(1)` placing the press cloth in the meal tray; (2) raising with the left hand the operating lever 28; (3) folding the press cloth4 over the meal in the tray; (4) raising and lowering with the ri ht handthe lever 23. The operator has, therefore, only been required to erform four manipulations and twoof t ese are simple adjustments of theprss cloth.

An attendant `removes the compressed or formed cake from the tray and conveys it to the press and the operator proceeds as before. In'machines heretofore in' use,.there were' required several more manipulations Y than the above, thus making theiforming. of

4the cakes in an oil mill a very slow and unsatisfactory process. By reason of the automatic action in' my machine, it is possible foi-"me to forml the cakes 4hydraulically with bettcrand quicker results, not only than are produced by hydraulic formera heretofore in use, but also with better satisfaction than has heretofore been attained with steamrformers, and at the same time eliminating the inherent `defects incident to the use of steam in this art.

4 vised a novel and useful construction which embodies the features of advantage enumerated asdesirable, and While I have in the present instance shown and describedmthe preferred embodiment thereof which has been found in practice to give satisfactory and' reliable results, it is to be understood that'I do not restrict myself to the details, is the same'a're susceptible of modificationin various' particulars without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a cake former, a meal tray in which the cake is to be formed, combined with a sliding apron in alinement with the meal tray, a meal chute, a valve device for controlling the discharge from the meal chute secured to and moving with the sliding apron, a chargin 4device for receiving the meal from the c ute and delivering it to the meal tray, and suitable means for reciprocating the charging means and apron.-

2, In a cake former, a meal tray in which the caker is to be formed, combined with a sliding' apron in alinement with the meal tray, a meal chute, a valve device for controlling the discharge from the meal chute secured to `and movingwith the sliding apron, a charging device for receiving the meal y from the chute and delivering it to the meal tray, suitable means for reciprocating the charging means and also move the apron and valve device in one direction awayfrom the meal tray for opening the meal chute, and separate means for moving the apron in the other direction toward the meal tray.

3. In a cake former, the combination of a meal tray, a sliding apron in alinement with the meal tray `and having an end forming a closure of the meal tray when the apron is moved toward it, power devices for moving the sliding apron toward the-meal tray, a meal chute having its dischargingend arranged above the sliding apron, a reciproeating charge box adapted to slideover the surface of the apron and meal tray and adapted to be brought into alinement 'beneath the discharging end )of the meal chute,

`pgwer devices for reciprocatingthe charge X in both directions ,and also moving the sliding apron away from the -meal tray, and suitable means for controllingl the discharge af) the meal from the chute into'the charge may x' 4.. In a cake forrnenthe combination of af meal tra a sliding a roninalinement with ,the mea4 tray and a apted to be moved ,to temporarily closethe Vend thereof, a meal chute, a valve device 'carried bythe apron for controlling the discharge of meal from the chute, a reciprocating charge box adapt* ed to slide over the apron and meal tray and also under meal chute, and means for shlfting the apron and valve device when bringing the charge box under the chute whereby the meal will be discharged from the chute into the charge box.

5. In a cake'former, the combination of a meal tray, a sliding apron in alinement with also under the mea chute,.means for shift-A ing the apron and valve device when bringing the charge box under *thev chute whereby the meal will be discharged from the chute into the charge box, and separate means for' moving the sliding apron and the valve de vices into osi tion for shutting oil the escape of meal rom the chute and -moving t e apron toward the meal tray when the charge boxis being moved toward the meal tray.

6. In a cake former, the combination of a meal tray, a sliding apron in alinement with `the meal `tray and adapted to be moved to temporarily close the end thereof, a meal chute, a valve device carried by the apron for controlling the discharge of meal from the chute, a reciprocating charge box adapted to slide over the apron and meal tray vvand also under the meal chute, means ffor shifting the apronY and valve device when bring-A ing the charge box under the chute whereby the meal will be ydischarged from the'l chute into the charge box, separate means for moving the sliding apron and the valve devices into position for shutting off the escape of meal rom the chute and moving the apron toward the meal tray when the charge box isbeing moved 'toward the meal tray, and manually controlled valve devicesV for simultaneously controlling the operation of the means for moving the apron and/,fits valve device and also the charge box toward the meal tra j 7. In a ca e former, the combination of a meal tray, a sliding apron in alinement with the meal tray and adapted to be moved to temporarily close the end thereof, a meal chute, a valve device carried by thea ron for controlling the discharge of meal rom the chute, a reciprocating charge box adapted to slide over the apron and meal tray and also under the meal chute, means for shifting the apron and valve'device when bringing the charge box under the chute'whereby the meal will be discharged from the chute into the chargefbox, separate means for moving the sliding apron andthe valve devices into osition for shuttingol the esca e of meal rom the chute and moving t e apron toward the meal tray, manually controlled valve devices for simultaneously controlling the operation of the means for movder 'for 'moving the :Laminati-v ing-the apron and its valve device and also the charge box toward the meal tray, and v automatlc devices independent of handA controlfor'returning the charge box, the apron,

and the valve device t'o their original positlons after charging-the meal tray.

8, In a cake former, the combination of a meal tray, a meal chute, a charge box for transferring the meal from the meal chute to the tray, a valve separate from the charge box for closing themeal chute except when y the charge box is under it, ower devices for reciprocating Vthe charge ox, manually controlled means for timing the operation of .the power devices, andr means of less power than and independent of the power devices for operating the valve and whose time of action in `operating the valve is only .a portion of thetime of action of the charge box but controlled by the power devices which operatethe chargeY box.

In a cake former, the combination of a meal tray, a meal chute, a reciprocating charge box for transferring meal from the chute to the tray, an operating cylinder, a piston rod for sa'id cylinder connected with the 'charge box andhaving a piston within the cylinder, meansvfor delivering continuously acting pressure-to one end of the cylinpiston backward to return the charge box rom the meal tray to 'a the cylinder to push the lpiston forward for l moving the charge box from the meal chute the meal tray, and hand controlled valve devlces for supplying pressure to the pipes piston is moved forward against the contlnuously acting pressure on 1ts other side or has its reure on its rear end relievedl to enable t econtinuously-- acting pressure to exert itself to Vmove the piston backward.

10. In a cake former, the combination of amea'l tray, a meallchute, a reciprocating charge box for transferring meal from the chute to the tray, an operating cylinder, a piston rod for said cylinder connected with ,in a piston within the cylinder, a pipe for de ivering a fluid pressure in the cylinder to one slde of the piston for moving the piston backward to return the charge box fromthe meal'trayto a position under the meal chute, pipes for supplying pressure to the opposite side of the `piston sald pressure delivered to the rear end of the cyllnder to push the piston forward for moving the charge box from the meal chute to the meal l tray, hand controlled yvalve devices for supplying pressureto the pipes or `relieving them of operative pressure, whereby the piston is acted upon on one side and moved forward against the continuously acting pressure on its other side or has its pressure the charge box an/d continuously acting hav-v or Yrelievingthem'of pressure, whereby the on its rear end relieved to enable the continuously acting pressure to exert itself to move the piston backward said valve devices independent of the pipe for delivering the continuously acting pressure, locking means to hold the valve devices in position to supL ply pressure to the pipes, and automatic charge box `for transferring meal from the chute to the tray, an operating cylinder, a piston rod for said cylinder connected with the charge box and having a piston within thecylinder, means for continuously deliverin a fluid pressure in the cylinder to one si e of the piston for moving the piston backward to return the charge box from the meal tray to a position under the meal chute said pressure delivered to the forward end of the cylinder, pipes for supplying pressure to the opposite end of the cylinder to push the piston forward for'moving the charge box from the meal chute to the meal tray, hand .controlled valve devices for supplying pressure to theV pipes or relieving them of pressure, whereby the' piston is moved for-r.`

ward against'the continuously actingl pressure or has its pressure on its rear end relieved to enable the maintained pressure on the other end to exert itself` to move the piston backward, and a. mechanical butler device arranged within therear end of the c'linder and adapted to take the thrust of t e piston and piston rodunder the action of the continuously acting pressure to bring Said parts to rest without shock. l Y

12. 4In a' cake former,the combination-,of

-a meal tray,` a meal cl'iute,ja sliding: apron ha'vng'a valve to control the chute," a reciprocatngcharg'e box adapted to slide over the apron and meal tray, two hydraulic morfV tors. for; respectivelyl moving the, sliding' apron land charge box in oneand 4,the'same fdirection, `and means wherebyl the 5motor whichmoves 4the chargeb'ox'shall cause the sldingapro'n to be moved inthe o posite direction at a time commensurate withjthe lfinal returnmovementl of the charge box.

13. In a -cake foriner,`the`combinat`ion of a meal tray, asliding apron, a reciprocating chargebox adapted tomove overthe apron and meal tray, means to charge the charge box with meal when over the=- apron, hand controlled power devices 'for Imoving' the apron and charge box toward the meal tray,-`

and automatically operated 4means for cans wing the charge box and apron .to be moved `in' the reverse direction.-

14. In a cake former, the combination of i motor to reci rocatethe c ar hand lever manual a meal tray, a sliding apron, a reciplrocating charge box adapted to move over t e apron and meal tray, means Vto charge the charge box with meal when over the apron, hand controlled power devices for moving the 7o apron and charge box towardthe meal tray, automatically operated means for causing the charge box and apron to be moved in the reverse direction, and automatically operating means for controlling the time of reversal of movement of the charge box whereby said charge box has its movement reversed after completely passing over the meal tray.

15. In a cake former,"the combination of a meal tray, a reciprocating charge box adapted to be moved over the meal tray for Charging it, a fluid pressure motor for movl ing the charge-box over the meal tray, a y hand controlled valve for admitting Huid pressure to the motor, locking means for holding the valve in its position for supplying fluid pressure, means for causing the valve to shut o" the fluid pressure when released and relieve the pressure from the motor,I automatic devices for controlling the locking device to release the valve when the charge box has moved over themeal tray,

and means cooperating with the fluid pressure motor for 'returning the charge box to its original position from above the meal tray when -the valve is automatically un'- locked. i

16. In a cake former, the, combination of a' meal tray, a reciprocating "charge bolx adapted .to be moved over the meal tray for char 'ng it, a fluid pressure motor for moving t e charge box over the meal tray, a hand controlled valve foradmittingfliiid ressure to the motor, 1ocking means for holding' the valve in its 'position f or supplying fluid 105 pressure, means for causing the valve to shut o" ythe fluid pressure when released and relieve the pressure from the motor; automaticV y devices forcc'm'trollingV the locking device ,-to

release thevalve when the. charge ,box has4 110 moved over the meal vtray,'and means 'co operating withrthe Huid pressure motor for returning 'the charge box toits original position from abovefthe 'meal'tr'ay when the valve`is automaticall unlockedg'saidwme'ans 1:15

consisting of device ,-ind'ependent of the valve for supplying al constant fluid presi sure 'to the'motor to, reverse'. its -operation automatically `when'tlie i'al'veA is moved to l exhausting'or-relief pos'tiong 17; ,Inja c akegformer, 'a meal Itra-y, combined .with `a charge boi a fluidypressure box, a' valve for. alternate supplying fluid..='presl1re to izo the motor an .relieving 4the 'pressure there- A125y from having a reci rocatin part, a pivoted mova le. in one direc-r tion for operatic te valve tofsupply fluid pressure, meansr automatically' moving .the lever in the Vother direction to "operate 4130 the valve to shut oil' fluid pressure andmove it binto exhaust position, a connection including a spring between the lhand lever andthe movable part of the valve whereby the movable part of the valve is moved positively into exhaust position by the hand lever and under spring action in the other direction to supply fluid pressure, a latch to lock the lever in position when it has been shifted to move the movable part of the valve under the'spring action, andl means to release the latch controlled by the movement of the charge box whereby the movable part of the valve may be automatically shifted after the charge box has been given a .predetermined extent of movement to relieve the fluid pressure from the motor.

1 8. In a cake former, the combination of a meal tray, a charge box slidable over the meal tray and having its top and bottom open, me'ans to reciprocate the charge box, and a swinging vane pivoted within the charge box and extending transversely across the same and free. to swing below its pivot into an oblique position to' provide a cam surface fdr forcing the meal downward into the meal tray.

.19.' Ina cake former, the combination of a meal tray, a charge box slidable over the meal tray and having its top and bottom open, means' to reciprocate the charge box, and a swinging vane pivoted withinl the charge box and extending transversely across the sameand free to swing below its pivot into an oblique position to provide a cam surface for forcing the meal downward into the meal tray, said vane being arranged near the llower part of the charge box and capable of swin ing into an oblique position upon the opposite sides of the axis of" oscillation whereby it may exert its downward packing action when the charge box is moved in either direction.

` 20. In a cake former, the combination of a meal tray, a main fra-me, a bridge structure secured to and extending over the main.

frame and at a higher elevation than the meal tray, a meal chute connected with the top of the Vbridge and arranged to discharge through the same, a charge box, means to reciprocatethe charge box from within the bri ge beneath -the meal .chuteto a position over'the meal tray, a suitable valvedevice for controlling the discharge of meal from the chute intothecharge box, and means for reciprocating the valve device a less, distance than theI movementy 'of' the charge'box. f 21. Ina cake-.former,l.amain frame', combined with forming mechanism consisting of a meal tray, means to reciprocate the meal tray,l a pivotedlz'head tree -adaptedto coperate with the-meal gtray 'informing the cake, a latch pivoted to the' headttee 4and device for controlling the supply of fluid pressure to the fluid pressure motor, ard a hand controlled means for operating the said valve.

22. In a cake former, a main frame, combined with forming mechanism consisting of.a meal tray, means to reciprocate =the meal tray, a pivoted head tree adapted to cooperate with themeal tray in forming the cake, a latch pivoted to the head tree and engaging the main frame for temporarily locking the head tree in lowered position, a link connected with the latch, a spring between the link and the head tree tending to resist the gravity action of the head tree, a suitable stop to limit the extent of movement of the latch when moved to the unlatching position, a pivoted fluid pressure motor having a reciprocable piston for operating link for raising and lowering the head tree, a spring around the lpiston rod',

to raise the piston, connecting means between the fluid pressure motor and thelink consisting of a toggle plate journaled adjacent to the pivotal axis of the head tree and connected both to thelink and to the free end of the piston, a valve device for controlling the supply oflluid pressure to the fluid pressure '.motor, and a hand controlled means for operating the' said valve, whereby the application of fluid' pressure tothe motor will first cause the com ressioniof the spring on the link to unlatch t e head tree and then cause` the head tree to swing upward about its pivotal axis.

. A23. In a cake'former, the combination of 'a main frame, a meal tra power means to reciprocate the tray vertically, a head tree pivotally supported on the mam framefand adapted to swing down-into coperation with the meal tray, locking means for lockingv the head'tree vto the main frame whenin lowered position, a fluidpressure motorfor operating-the locking means and4 head tree,

` a source of fluid pressure, a main valve for. controlling the fluid' pressure to and from vthe fluid .pressure motor,i hand operable means for cont'fllng. the main valve, 'and an auxiliary adjustable needle valvey to control the rate lof 'discharge 'of the fluidl pressure-fromthe lluid pressure motorfwhen the main valve is ,operated to release the! pressure when lowering tliehead tree.

24. In a cake former, the combination of a 'main-f frame," a"`reciprocating 4 meal tray, a

i pivoted head tree hinged upon the mainl adapted to be supported by the main frame frame at one side of the meal'tray 'and at the opposite side of the meal traywhen in lowered position, a latch carried b. the

head tree for locking it to the main rame when lowered, a motor having a piston for operating the head tree, a connection between `the piston and the latch whereby the latch is first operated by the motor to unlock the head tree and then raised with the head tree by the power of the motor, and a springv interposed between the head tree4 and the connection and opposing the motor action for insuringthe operation of the latch independently of the operation of the head tree.

25. In a cake former, the combination of a main frame, a reciprocating meal tray, a pinoted head tree` hinged 4upon the main frame at one side of the. meal tray and adapted to be supported by the main frame'V at the opposite side of the meal tray when in lowered position, a. latch carried the b head tree for locking it tothe main "iame when lowered, a motor having a piston for operating the head tree, a connection between the piston and the latch whereby the latch is first operated by the motor -to unlock the head tree and then raised with the head tree by the power. of the motor, a spring interposed between the head tree and the` connection` and opposing the motor-action ifor insuring the operation of the latch independently of the operation of the head tree,

yand a second spring independent of the head tree but opposin the motor action in raising the head tree an compensating for the varying leverage ofthe head treeas it is being raised.

26. In a cake former, the combination of a main frame, a reciprocatingimeal tray, a head tree adapted to coperate with' the meal `tray hinged to the main frameat one side `of said meal tray, a pressure motor having a piston, and a spring connection between the piston and the head tree for raising and lowering `the head tree. Y l

27. In a cake former, the combination of a main frame, a reciprocating meal'tray, a

head tree adapted to cooperate with the meal tray hinged tothe main framefat one side of said meal tray, a pressure motor having a piston, a spring connection between the piston and the head treerfor raising and loweringuthe head tree, and means to limit the extentl of compression of the spring.

28. In a cake former, the comblnation of a main frame, a reciprocating meal tray, a

` head tree adapted to` coperate with the meal tray hinged to the main frame at one side of said meal tray, a pressure motor having a piston, a spring connection between the piston and the hca l tree for raising and lowering the head tree, a second spring opposing the action of the motor in raising the head tree and for storing power for lowering the head tree lwhen the pressure ofthe motor is released, and means for controlling the pressure supplied to the motor. l,

29. In ya cake former, the combination of 'a main frame,a reciprocating meal tray, a

hinged head tree adapted to be supported by the m'ain frame when fully lowered, a motor device, a 4yielding connection between the motor devic'ema'nd the head treeforloscillat-Y ing the latterV between its upper and lower positions, 'a latch for locking 'the head tree inits lowered position, and meanswhereby the weight `of the head treein descending normally'holds the latch outof locking polsition until the said head tree has come to rest tent of movement of the latch, an oscillaty ing motor cylinder and a piston therefor," f a rocking toggle frame, a connection between thetoggle yframe and the piston, a spring to oppose the piston action in oscillating the toggle frame, a link betweenvthe toggle frame and the latch, a spring between the link and the head tree,A and meansto cylinder. I Y

' 31. In a cake former, the combination of a mainframe, a verticall movable meal tray, a pressure motor or raising and lowering the tray, valve devices for controlling the pressure su plied to the motor,

\ control the `supply of pressure to the motor a movable head tree a apted to be moved into and out of relation with the meal tray,

meansf for operating the head tree, auto-v matic means actuated by the head tree and its operating mechanism forI operating the valve devices to supply pressure to the motor when the head tree is in lowered position.

32.In a cake former, the combination of a fmain1 frame, 'a vertically movable meal tray, a pressure Vmotor for raising and loweringihe tray, valve devices for controlling ythe pressure suppliedl to the motor, -a movable head tree ada ted-gto be moved into and out of relation wit themeal tray, means for operating the head tree, automatic means actuated by the head tree andits operating mechanism' for operating 'thevalve devices to supply pressure to the motor when the head tree is in lowered position, vand manually controlled ,means for relieving the pressure from the pressure motor. v

. 33. In a cake former, the combinatiru` of a main frame, l

tray, a pressure motor to reci rocate the meal tray, a movable head tree adapted to be lowered into operative relation with the meal tray, power devices for raising and a vertically mo'vable meat .lowering the head tree, a latch for locking the head tree in its lowered position, a source of pressure, a valve device for controlling the pressure supplied tothe pressure motor, means actuated by the 'latch in the act of locking the head tree for opening the valve to permit pressure to the pressure 'motor whereby the meal ytray is forcibly raised, and separate means for relieving the ,pressure of the pressure motor. 1

34. In acake former, the combinationpf a main frame, a verticallyV movable meal tray, a pressure motor to reciprocate the meal tray, a movable head tree adapted to be lowered into'operative relation with the meal tray, power devices for raising and v lowering, the head tree, a latch for locking the head tree in its lowered position, a source of pressure, a valve device for controllingthe 'pressure supplied to' the ressure motor, means actuated by the latc in vthe act of'locking the head tree for opening the valve to permit pressure to the fpressure motor whereby themeal tray is Orcibly raised, and separate manually controlled means for relieving the pressure of the pressure motor and for also operating the latch and controlling the power devices for raising the head tree.

35. In a cake former, lthe combination of a reciprocating meal tray, a fluid pressure motor for reciprocating the tray, an 'automatic valve device for supplying fluid pres sure to the fluid pressure motor, a pivoted head tree, a fluid pressure motor for operatling the headtree, connections between the fluid pressure -motor and the head tree also adapted to operate the automatic valve for supplying pressure to the iluidressure motor operating the meal tray w en the, head tree is fully lowered, a source of fluid ressure, and manually controlled valves or' controlling the, fluid `pressure of the fluid pressure motor for operating the head tree and forexhaustingthe fluidpressure from the Huid pressure motor for operating the meal tray.

36. In a cake former, the combination of a reciprocatin meal tray, a fluid pressure motor for reciprocating the tray, an automatic valve device for supplying fluid pressure tothe fluid pressure motor, a pivoted head tree, a fluid pressure motor for'operatin the head tree, connections between the fini pressure `motor and the head tree also adapted to operate the automatic valve for'l Yressnre fmotor operating the .Emeal tray w en' the supplying pressure to 4the Huid head' tree is fully lowered, a source of fluid pressure, manually controlled valves for vcontrollimig; the fluid lpressureI of thel uid .pressure motlr for o eratin the 4'headtree wand for exhaustingjtli ui` the fluid pressuremotor for operating'the' meal tray, an exhaust port from the Iuid pressure from ing and exhausting fiuid pressure in respect to the fluid pressure' motor for the' meal tray, a single manually controlled part for alternately operating the two main valves, whereby iiuid pressure is supplied to or exhausted from the two pressure'motors alternately, and a separate' automatic valve device controlled by the action of the fluid pressure motor for operating the head tree for controlling the time of admission of' the fluid pressure-tothe fluid pressure motor which operates the meal tray.

38. In a cake former, the combination of a meal tray, a head tree, separate fluid pressure motors to operate the headv tree and the meal tray, a source of fluid pressure, a main valve for controlling the supply and 'exhaust' of the fiuid pressure motor for the head tree, a Second main valve for supplying and exhausting fiuid pressure in respect to the fluid pressure motor for the meal tray, y

a single manually controlled part for alternately operating the two main valves, whereby fluid pressure' is supplied to or exhausted from the two pressure motors alternately,

' a separate automatic valve device controlled by the action of the-fluid ressure motor for operating the head tree or controlling the time of admission of the fluidpressu're to the fluid pressuremotor lwhich operates the meal tray, and a check valve release acting as a by-pass about the automatic valve for the fluid ressure motor for the meal tray, whereby t e said valve may close before the fluid vpressure has been wholly exhausted.y

39. In a cake former, the combinationof i a meal tray, a plunger for raising and lowerin the meal vtra a lhydraulic cylinder'for t Ae plunger,V a uid pressure port for vthe cylinder, an automatic valve to normally close ,t,h'e port, a head tree, a movable means for locking the'head treein operative posi#v tion, and'vconnecting means between the latch and the` automatic valve whereby `theperation' of 'latch in locking the head -tree opens the valve.-

40. In a 'cakel former, the combination of a meal tray, aplungerifor raisingand lowering the meal tray, a hydrauliccylinderfor the plunger, a fiuid pressure port for v'the'v cylinder, an automatic yvalve tofn'ormally close the port, a head tree, av movablemeans` for locking the lhead tree inoperative posi` tion, connecting means between. theu, latch `and the automatic valve whereby the operation of the latch in locking the head` tree opens the valve, a manually controlled main valve for controlling pressure supplied to the automatic valve, and a by-pass from' the hydraulic cylinder about the automatic valve and havin a check-valve for exhausting the said cy lnder under the control of the main valve independently of the automatic valve.

41. In a cake former, the combination of a main frame, a vertically movable meal tray, a hinged head tree, means for moving the head tree, a latch for locking the head tree to the main frame in lowered position, a hydraulic cylinderz a plunger for the cylinder connecting Wlth the meal tray, an

y automatic valve for controlling the supply of fluid pressure to the hydraulic cylinder, a spring to normally close the valve, and a lever plvoted to the main frame having a part connected with the automatic valve and another part adapted to be moved by the latch wherebyV the locking of the head treey a meal tray, a pivotedapron at one end of themeal tray oounterweighted to normally move out" of operative position, charging devices for delivering meal to the tray, a manually operated part for putting the charging devices into operation' and also for lowering the pivoted apron into operative position with the meal tray, and automatic means under the control of the charging mechanism for releasing the pivoted apron, whereby it will automatically move out of operative position when the meal tray llas been charged with meal.

In testimony of which invention, I hereuntol set my hand.

l JOSEPH DAVIDSON.

Witnesses:

W. LINDsAY WILSON, J. R. MCDONALD. 

